Black Canadians more prone to die from diabetes complications
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Black Canadians have less access to primary care: researcher
“I think one of the top reasons is delayed diagnosis… When you diagnose diabetes late, you treat it late, it’s already more severe so then they’re more likely to get amputations… Because Black Canadians are more likely to get diabetes [younger] they should be screened earlier at 30 or 35,” said Dr. Azza Eissa, a family physician and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, CBC News, June 24, 2024
“Black Canadians have less access to primary care, they have less trust in the health care system, justifiably so,” said Nicole Woods, a researcher with the Institute for Education Research at Toronto’s University Health Network, to CBC News, June 24, 2024
Ontario waiting list for long-term care tops 44,000; province needs to step up, says Toronto mayor
“We will absolutely take care of some of the (homes) that (the province) is losing, but without a new funding formula, we can’t do it. . . I would imagine those seniors and their families would feel devastated and sort of desperate, and then not knowing what to do, and lost . . .I just wish the city of Toronto could step in and do so much more, but we can’t financially… For me, it’s very frustrating… It’s financially prudent to have seniors age well instead of having them land in hospitals, and in long-term-care homes,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow to the Toronto Star, July 2, 2024
Fast-food nursing? Private agency offering to pay nurses before federally required certification and training
“How do you argue with that? I also know other First Nations communities are in dire need of nurses,” said Chief David Monias, Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake, MB), whose community has four nurses for a population of more than 10,000 residents, Winnipeg Free Press, July 2, 2024
Dental care plan moving along, but s-l-o-w-l-y
“Rolling it out to everybody is a big deal, and every person that gets care that didn’t get care before is (a) victory,” said Federal Health Minister Mark Holland, to The Canadian Press, June 28, 2024
Health care is mental as well as physical
“Nine in 10 Canadians consider access to mental health services to be important, and more than 80 per cent agree that provincial governments should hire more mental health providers to improve access to care, according to a poll from Pollara Insights. . . Last year’s alarming rise in mental health issues underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to improve mental health care in Canada,” wrote Carrie Foster, president of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, in the Hill Times, June 26, 2024
Arbitration a cop-out, says Ontario Nurses Association president
“It is appalling that our skilled and dedicated health-care professionals have received so little respect from their employer and have been forced into arbitration for a new contract. . .If Health Sciences North had any regard for those on the front lines who provide such value to patients, they would have fairly negotiated a respectful contract. Instead of prioritizing the working conditions of those who deliver patient care, they have left our members severely short staffed and struggling to provide care and diagnostic services,” said Erin Ariss RN, president of the Ontario Nurses Association, to Sudbury News, June 26, 2024
BC government to invest $750-million in minimum nurse-to-patient ratio
“Things don’t always go so well in someone’s healthcare journey, but for (nurses to) know that they’ve been able to do everything that was needed for that patient — everyone wants to do a good job,” said BC Nurses Union President Adriane Gear, to The Globe and Mail, June 27, 2024
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